Lander Professors Discuss Artificial Intelligence in Upcoming Lecture

The community is invited to join Lander University and the Arts Center of Greenwood for the fifth installment of the 2024-25 Community Lecture Series Tuesday, March 11. The event will feature Dr. Walter Iriarte, assistant professor of digital media, and Dr. Sean Barnette, professor of English. The pair will give a lecture titled “Communicating with Artificial Intelligence” beginning at 6 p.m. at the Arts Center of Greenwood. The event is free and open to the public, with refreshments and a cash bar beginning at 5:30 p.m.

About the Event:

AI seems to be everywhere these days, but how should we think about it? Should we embrace it or fear it? In this talk, the audience will be invited to look closely at several interactive AI simulators, particularly on social media, and explore what AI can show us about how language works in the first place, where meaning comes from and ultimately why we interact with other people.

Dr. Sean Barnette is a professor of English and assistant director of the Honors College at Lander. He holds an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of South Carolina, and a Ph.D. in Rhetoric from the University of Tennessee.

Dr. Walter Iriarte is an assistant professor of digital media at Lander. He earned his Ph.D. in Rhetorics, Communication, and Information Design from Clemson University. Iriarte’s research interests include studying the behavioral visual patterns of drone video and pilots as well as communication practices in social media. Iriarte has also produced films for national film competitions and continues to create experimental projects using emerging media technologies.

Please visit www.lander.edu/events for updates and to confirm event times and venues. For questions, please contact Assistant Provost Dr. Mark Rollins at 864-388-8563 or mrollins@lander.edu.